Sidewalk fine graders



March 11, 1958 c. A. CARTER SIDEWALK FINE GRADERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 14. 1954 INVENTOR. ,4 (ma ree.

.4 r Tom/EK March 11, 1958 c. A. CARTER SIDEWALK FINE GRADERS 2 Sheets-Sheet'l 2 Filed June 14. 1954 FIG. 4

v INVENTOR. 4. (4e rfa.

TTOQNEY United States Patent O SIDEWALK FINE GRADERS Charles A.: Carter, Phoenix, Ariz.

Application June 14, 1954, Serial No. 436,613

s claims. (c1. 314108).

This invention concerns a sidewalk ne grader machine for grading the earth between steel edge forms laid down on grade to provide sides for pouring-forms for concrete sidewalks.

One of thc objects of this invention is to provide a self-propelled fine grader machine which will run on and be guided by the edge forms which provide the sides of concrete sidewalk forms and which will mechanically cut and remove earth between said forms which is above grade and lill areas below grade and leave the earth between said forms at a grade determined and controlled by the grade of said steel edge forms.

Another object of the invention is to provide fa ne grader machine which will run along steel forms which have been placed in parallel position to provide the sides of a sidewalk pouring form and have been placed on a deiinite horizontal grade, which will `work the earth between said forms so that high spots above grade are cut down and low spots are lled and` all excess dirt is removed from between said form sides and deposited at one side thereof as the machine travels along the length of said form rails.

Another object of the invention is to provide a selfpropelled four wheeled tractive machine having front wheels which will be guided by and run on parallel steel form sides which are set up to determine the width and height of a cement sidewalk which is to be poured therebetween; said machine being arranged so that only light pressure is brought to bear on said rails so as not to disturb the grade levelling thereof while the main weight of the machine rests on rear traction wheels that run.

on the earth between and adjacent to said form rails; said machine having a rotary earth scarifying device which will loosen all earth above grade, and intermediate grader blades which will remove excess loosened earth to a central furrow and a rear blade associated with a transversely operating conveyor which will remove the excess earth from between the rails and deposit it at one side of the area included between said for-ms.

I attain the foregoing objects by means of the mechanism, apparatus, parts, and combination of parts shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tine grader machine embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the earth moving parts of the machine shown Without the supporting mechanism above them; and

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the rear scraper and transverse conveyor mechanism, as viewed from a section plane taken substantially on line 4-4, Figure 2.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts in the several views. Y, e

The fine grader machine is indicated generallyby numeral 2, and in use is run on steel forms 3 and 4 which are set up on each side of the area on which a cement sidewalk is to be poured. These forms are held in posi- "ice tion by spikes 6 attached by means of clamps 7 and are set to a denite horizontal grade and laid parallel to each other.

The machine is supported in part by these steel forms which act as rails for its front wheels, and includes a body 8 having a frame 9 with steerable wheels 10 at its front, and traction wheels 12 at its rear. The front wheels 10 are spaced to have a tread which is slightly less than the distance between the forms 3 and 4. On the outer faces of these wheels there are steel rims which run on forms 3 and 4 as though they were rails. Forms 3 and 4 may be considered rails as herein concerned. The right hand rim 14 has two flanges and acts as a transverse guide for the machine, while the left hand rim 16 has an inner ange only and a suicient width to provide tolerance for slight irregularities in the parallelism of the rails. The rear wheels 12 support most of the weight of the machine and have a tread width which permits them to run just within rails 3 and 4.

An engine 18 is positioned in the forepart of frame 9 and connected through gearing in gear box 21 and transmission box 31 and an automatic clutch to the rear wheels 12, to make the machine self-propelled. The front wheels 10 are steerable when the rims are not running on rails 3 and 4 by means of a conventional steering wheel 22.

Beneath the front portion ofthe machine frame there is a rotary toothed earth scariiier and crusher 2S which is horizontally and transversely journalled on a subframe having right and left lateral members 26 hinged to the forepart of the frame at their fore-ends and supported at the rear by links 27 attached to the lower arms 2S of bell cranks 29 which are controlled by hydraulic cylinders 30. In addition to the above mentioned supports there are shoes 32 which run on the top of the steel forms and act as auxiliary supports and as height gauges to assure that the scariiier and crusher will operate on the grade desired.

Behind the scariiier and crusher 25 and approximately in the center of the frame there are left and right intermediate windrow forming blades 36. These are supportedbeneath frame 9 on links 38 and bell cranks 39 at the front so that their forwardly positioned cutting edges 40 may be vertically adjusted by hydraulic cylinders 41 having piston rods connected to arms 37 of bell cranks 39. These blades are pivotally supported at their rear ends by pins 42 which are provided on frame 9. The leading cutting edges of these blades extend rearwardly and inwardly so that all earth above grade including that loosened by the scariier and crusher is moved centrally of the area between forms 3 and 4 into a windrow 44. They are partially supported, and their cutting height gauged by shoes 46 which run on forms 3 and 4.

Just to the rear of driving wheels 12 there are inwardly and rearwardly angularly slanting blades 50 which have upwardly extending lateral flanges 51. These blades are angularly positioned and shaped so that they remove earth which may be lodged adjacent to the inner faces of the steel forms, and work it towards the center of the rear levelling blade 60 of which they form a part. This central rear levelling blade is supported on a steel box-like structure 61 which acts in the manner of a scoop and has a back 62 and sides 63. Blade 60 forms the bottom of this box and its front or cutting edge determines the nal grade for the earth in the central portion of the area between the forms. The earth moved by blades 36 toward the center of the space between the forms 3 and 4, as a windrow, is scooped into box 61 by the forward movement of the machine 2. Also earth moved by angular blades 50 is received into box 61 in the same way.

All' earth accumulating-whlt 61 moved laterally V Box 61 and its blade 60 as well as blades 50 are supported on lateral extension `bars 70 which are hinged at their forwardr ends to the rear of -fr 1!:n e"9.v The vertical position of this box-assemblyisadjustedbya cable 72- which is wound on a drum 73 by manually operatedfcrank 74, and controlled. bygnon-reversilleY gearing in geanbox 75. Its height is gauged by slidingshoes176-at-itsrear,

which also partially supportitsiweight. l 1

Oil under pressure tooperatecontrol cylinders 30' and 41- is furnished by apump ISOLdriVen-by-the engine 18 and is controlled by means of valvesSZ' and 83210 operatecylinders 30, and cylinders 41, respectivelytf Afpower takeot 'shaft 77'from the transmissiontboxl -21f`drivesj the earth scariiier and crusher y25 Jthroug'hfgearboxt177a, shaft- 79, gearing in boxv `79b,.and chain-78 running .over sprockets 78a, and 7 8b (Figure-3) on eartlicrusherv andscariiier 25a, in the same directiontaswheels andL-IZ'and turns at a speed of approximately-ZSOrevolutions per minute, which gives its cuttingA teetha much higher-peripheral: speed than that of wheels 12, at an operating speed-Lof approximately' Smilesper-hour. -1

A second power takeoff shaftI 80-from the transmission gear box 31 drives the belt'. scraper 67iwhi'choperates in chute 66 which is at the rear-of: the machine. '1" *f Controls 84 and 85 are p rovidedfonindependent opera.-Y tion of both the earth scaritier-andcru'sherwZStand the' scraper chain 67 power takeoff lthrough:clutcheslnot` shown) within gear boxes 21 and.3l;f1respactively:l ThisS control operates by means.ofzhydraulic'f-servoicontrolsf In use the grader vehicle.l 2 lmaybe. mov'ttunderitsiown; power where desired. In doing. this thereaslgradenboff 61 is raised. by hand controls;thewindrownbladesare raised by. clinders 41;,and the. rotary scarienand'crusher'f by cylinders 30. A sidewalksite is started by;` laying out; the side lines and. placing ,the edge .forms y31;and;it-oaths:

saidiforrns assaid grader-moves-forward, said s carier and: Crusher-beingssupported on a frame hinged at -its front endl to the bodyfframe and disposed beneathfthe fore part ofV side lines Vsecuring themtby. stakes 6,.v and blocking. them.=

to grade. The grader 2 is then run between-these forms with the rims 14 and 16 ofthe frontewheels running. on the forms as though they were Vrails,'.and thetreandniving wheels 12 running just within the forms.: v'I'he-,scariierand crusher is then lowered. toithe gradedesired audits lowermost position controlled.A by shoes, 32. .The windrow blades 36 are similarly positioned,.and. the blade and blades 50 on box 61 are likewise positioned with their respective shoes riding on the tops of the edge forms. The scarier and crusher 25 is then operated and, .the chain belt scraper 67 started while the graden-..2 is drivenI forward, The scariier and CrusherI then lossens the earth f between the forms to grade, the windrow blades level the earth to grade and move the excess to the center windrow. The blade 60 scoops up this excess into box 61 and the chainfscraperbelt moves the excess earth through chute 66 to one side of the forms. earth Where the wheels 12 have left tracks. The earth between the forms is thereby graded smooth and;is ready for the pour.

The foregoing description andexplanation is considered to be exemplary, and many modiiicationsgand substitutions may be made which would, nevertheless remain within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A tine grader for leveling the earth between parallel steel sidewalk edge forms to grade consisting of; ansel propelled vehicle having a body. frame, a motor -in-said. frame, steerable front wheels atthe front of said, frame having anged rims running on said edge formsasgrails,

The blades 50 resrnooth the rear driving wheels journalled on therearof saidfram,e.

driven by said motor, said driving wheels close1y adjacent the inner .faces of said forms, a transverse.rotary;L earth scarier and crusher loosening` earthpbetweenzlsad: forms; as said gradermoves; forward, said .scarilier.-,and,. Crusher being. supported@ .oma horizontalhaftfipllrnalssls 011 a Supaottthinsdfatfitsgfront and tqtsaisifbsyflfremf s 4 L and disposed beneath the fore part of said body frame and -being-vertically adjustable-ayto cut -by hydraulic means, rearwardly and inwardly extending windrow forming scraper blades hingedly supported beneath and on each side of said body frame and vertically adjustable by hydraulic means to vary their depth of cut, said blades leveling lateral portions of the earth between said rails and moving excess earth centrally of said rails in the form of a windrow as said grader moves forward, a scoop hinged on the rear Vof said body frame and vertically adjustable relative thereto, said scoop having a central leveling bottom blade, and laterally positioned forwardly and outwardlyislanting `blades-positioned to the rear of said driving wheels, said blades smoothing earth over which said driving wheels pass and moving excess earth centrally toward said scoop, a laterally lextending chute attached to one side of said scoop and a chain scraper driven by said motor moving earth from said scoop and depositing it laterallybeyond said graded area.

2. A tine grader for leveling-the earth between parallel steelsidewalk edge forms to grade consisting of a self vpropelled vehicle having a body frame, a motor in said frame,`

steerable'front wheels with flanged rims running onsaid edge form as-rails'to steer said vehicle, rear driving wheels driven'by` said motor,- said Wheels running on the earth closely'adjacent the inner faces of saidforms, a transverse rotary earth A's'caririer-V and -crusher looseningearth between said-1 body= frame 'and' vertically adjustable Ato vary the d'ept-ltt5'ofisntlof1 said 'scaritierby hydraulic means, shoesonlflsaidlctteriframe-running onsaid rails gauging thedepth o-cutaoflsaid-arth-'scarier andl crusher, rear-ward' ly| and inwardlyL` extendingwindrow forming scraper blades hingedly supported'l-beneathand on each side of said bodyl frame 'and verticallyadjustable by -hydraulicmeans to f yvary!theirdepthiofV cut,shoes on saidl blades for'partial support and gauging the depth of cut of-said blades; saidblades leveling lateral portions of the earth between saidrails'andmoving excessearth centrally of said railsin the form ofra windrowasfsaid grader moves forward, a scoop .Y hinged on the rear of saidrbody frame and vertically ad-` justablerelative thereto, said scoop having shoes runningon said forms vto-aliordpartial support and gauge the verticalposition of said scoop, a central levelingbottom blade ontherfront'edge of said scoop, said blade being centrally disposed on said scoop to the rear of said drivingwheels, laterally' .positioned Iforwardly and outwardly slanting blades on the lateral portions ofl said scoop, disposed to` the rear of said driving wheels and levelling earth over which said wheelspass, a laterally extending chute on one side of said scoop, and a chain scraper driven by said motor moving. earth from said scoop and chute and deposit,

ing it laterally beyond said graded area.

3. A fine. grader for levelling earth between parallel' sidewalk edge forms, consisting of a self-propelled vehiclel having a body including a frame, an engine for. propulsion thereof mounted in said: frame, front wheels on the.

front of saidfafehiclebody frame, and vertically adjustable thereon fonrlooseningaand crushing earth between said forms, angularly; disposed windrow blades supported beneath said body frame moving earth between said for-ms inwardly from each form to a central windroviga scoop havingV supporting,membersv hinged: to thev rear: of .said vehicleframetaincludinga centrally` positioned. bottom.. leyellingb1ade.reeeiv`ing earth frornbetween said `forms including the earth from said windrow, and lateral levelling blades extending forwardly and laterally `from said levelling blade on said scoop and disposed to the rear of said driving wheels, said lateral leveling blades being adapted to smooth earth over which said driving wheels have passed and move it centrally of said forms in front of said scoop levelling blade, a chute extending laterally from said scoop, a chain scraper, operating in said scoop and chute driven by said engine, removing earth from said scoop and chute and depositing it laterally of said forms.

4. In a sidewalk line grader, as described in claim 3, an operators seat on said frame, and manually operated controlling means adjacent said seat for raising and lowering k said scariier and crusher, and said windrow forming blades, by hydraulic and mechanical means, and means for steering said vehicle when said front wheels are not running on said forms as rails.

5. A line grader for levelling earth between parallel sidewalk edge forms, consisting of a self-propelled vehicle having a body including a frame, an engine for propulsion thereof mounted in said frame, front wheels on the front portion of said frame having tires for travel on the earth and having lateral flanged rims running on said edge forms as rails and guiding said vehicle, and driving wheels operated by said engine and disposed on the rear of said frame adapted to track within said edge forms, a transverse rotary earth scarier and crusher operating transversely of said frame and vertically adjustable therein relative to the ground on whirn said driving wheels run, angularly disposed windrow blades supported beneath said body frame rearward ot said scari'lier vfor moving earth loosened by said scariier inwardly from said edge forms, a scoop hinged to the rear ot said frame having a centrally positioned bottom leveling blade to receive earth centrally disposed between said edge forms, and laterally positioned levelling wing blades disposed on said scoop and adapted to move earth centrally from said edge forms rearwardly of said driving wheels and direct said earth toward the levelling blade ot said scoop, a chute extending laterally from said scoop, and a chain scraper operating in said scoop and chute driven by said engine.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,849,754 Darrow Mar. 15, 1932 1,383,667 Flynn Oct. 18, 1932 1,920,319 Regenhardt Aug. 1, 1933 y2,135,307 Keator Nov. l, 1938 2,186,059 Baker Jan. 9, 1940 2,416,401 Meisenburg Feb. 25, 1947 

